In the recent issue Circulation, a new method for detecting heart
disease was discussed. This may offer hope for those with a family
history of heart disease. Scientists at Michigan University and the
Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN discovered that by administering calcium
to patients may allow doctors to detect blocked arteries for people who
show no symptoms of disease. This is a non-evasive way for doctors to
detect heart disease early.
This is a fifteen minute test, called electron beam computed tomography
(EBCT) test which detects calcium in arteries. Originally this test was
used for patients already experiencing symptoms of heart disease, but
researchers have discovered this EBCT test can be used for those not
experiencing heart disease and is very effective. A study was tested on
both symptomatic and asymptomatic patients and the results were seventy
percent accurate.
You might be wondering how the EBCT works? This test measures the
calcium buildup or deposits in artery plaque. Plaque in the arteries
will block blood flow and eventually can lead to coronary artery
disease (CAD). Coronary arteries supply your heart with blood and
oxygen. A complete blockage in one of these arteries can cause a heart
attack. Calcium seems to adhere to plaque in the arteries so scientists
have determined that the more calcium detected by the EBCT test means
more plaque in the arteries and the more advanced CAD a person could
have. If patients of 50 years or older scoring 200 or more and patients
younger than 50 years old scoring 100 or more could have early onset
CAD. This applies for both men and women.
If you suspect that you have CAD, here are some simple signs and
symptoms to look for. One symptom is chest pain, do you feel tightness
or pressure in your chest as if someone is pressing against your chest
or standing on it? This sort of pain is usually triggered by physical
or emotional stress. The pain goes away when you stop the stressful
activity. This pain may feel sharp extending to your abdomen, back
and/or arms.
Second symptom you may experience is shortness of breath. This happens
when your heart can not pump enough blood to supply the body
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